A CATTLE DISPUTE. A MORNING MEETING. THREE PEOPLE DE-AD — THEN THE JUDGE HANDED DOWN QUEENSLAND’S HARSHest NON-PAROLE SENTENCE AND REVEALED JUST HOW FAR THE VI0LENCE HAD GONE
A farmer who murdered three of his neighbours and attempted to kill a fourth over a bitter cattle dispute is likely to die in prison after being handed the longest non-parole period in Queensland history.
Darryl Young, now 63, opened fire on Mervyn and Maree Schwarz and Maree’s son Graham Tighe during a dispute over cattle at his remote Bogie property in 2022, killing all three and critically injuring Graham’s brother Ross.
He showed little emotion as he was sentenced to life in prison on Monday, with a judge ordering he serve at least 40 years before becoming eligible for parole.
By the time Young can apply for parole, he will be 99 years old.
“We all feel very good the justice system has stepped up,” the family said after the sentencing.
The sentencing came after a four-week trial in the Townsville Supreme Court, where a jury found Young guilty of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
Judge Christopher Johnstone described Young’s actions as “thoroughly cowardly and completely ruthless”.
Young, who has been dubbed the “Beast of Bogie”, had lured his neighbours to his Shannonvale property in North Queensland before opening fire following accusations they had stolen cattle.
‘No sentence will ever compare’
The victims’ family shared the devastating impact of the killings, which shattered generations of one family.
Mervyn Schwarz was remembered as “a man whose kindness, strength, and presence brought comfort to those around him”.
His wife Maree, the family said, “should still be here, sharing birthdays, Christmases, and ordinary moments that we once took for granted”.
Graham Tighe’s life, meanwhile, was stolen before he had the chance to watch his children grow.
His newborn baby was just 23 days old when he was killed.
Ross Tighe survived the shooting after being hit in the stomach, escaping the property and driving for help while critically injured.
But his family said Ross would never escape the trauma.
“Ross will always carry what he witnessed and survived that day,” they said.
“No sentence Darryl gets will ever compare to the sentence he’s imposed on our family.”
SOURCE: https://7news.com.au/news/queensland-farmer-darryl-young-handed-record-sentence-for-murdering-three-neighbours-over-cattle-dispute-c-22836045
